The Springbrook Conservation Education Center (CEC) has discontinued educational programming at this facility, as part of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR)
effort to streamline its state parks operations.

Springbrook State Park, adjacent to the CEC, will remain open and daytime educational programs will be
offered there. CEC staff will be used to develop and coordinate these programs at the park and to
further educational programming within the State Parks Bureau.

Springbrook Conservation Education Center was built in 1969 to train Iowa teachers in outdoor
programming who could then offer the curriculums to their students. Over the years, the education
center evolved to host more day-use programs with hands-on environmental education activities.
During the last decade, school participation at the education center has declined. Today, less than half
of the groups using the facility are schools. Many factors have likely played a role in the decline.

DNR staff are currently reaching out to groups with existing reservations to help fulfill their needs with
other options.
For questions about existing reservations and future daytime programming only, contact staff
at 641-747- 8383 or
anne.riordan@dnr.iowa.gov

“The decision to close the education center was a very difficult one, but ultimately we feel it is the
correct one. We are confident that with the daytime activities in our state parks, the other DNR
education programs, and the outstanding education outreach efforts of our county conservation boards
and other conservation education partners, both public and private, we can fill the void left by this
decision and meet the needs of our schools and public.“

Todd Coffelt, Iowa DNR State Parks Bureau Chief

Daytime Group Programs

Daytime group programs will be offered at Springbrook State Park beginning March 13, 2017.